Born in such a society, Scarlet was a rebellious girl. At that time all men felt that
the wife should be guided by her husband’s superior knowledge, accept his opinions fully and have none of her own. But Scarlet intended to run the mill herself, which was a big shock to her husband as well as other men and women in that county. In fact seldom had man heard of women in business anywhere if women were so unfortunate as to be compelled to make a little money to assist their families in these hard times of war. If women really had no choice but to work and earn money, they would just do baking or paint china or do some sewing, keep boarders or teach or give music lesson and such like. Other women made money but they kept themselves at home while they did it as a woman should. But people could not accept woman who left the protection of her home and ventured out into the rough world of men, competing with them in business, rubbing shoulders with them, being exposed to insult and gossip…especially when Scarlet was not forced to do it, when she had a husband amply able to provide food clothes for her.
Scarlet always felt that women had hardness and endurance unknown to men, despite that she was taught in childhood that women were frail, tender, sensitive creatures. She was a woman who could handle business as well or even better than men. Even though she had been brought up to believe that a woman alone could accomplish nothing, yet she had managed the plantation without man’ help. She believed that women could manage everything in the world without men’ help—except having babies. With the idea that she was as capable as a man came a sudden rush of pride and violent longing to prove it, to make money for herself as men did. Money could be her own and she could handle it at her own will.
B. What to Learn from Scarlet
From the above, it is clear that women in today’s society should learn from Scarlet to have innovation, confidence and self-trust.
Nowadays, innovation plays an initial part in a person’ success of business. Innovation is the essence of the high-tech society. People who like reading newspapers, surfing the Internet or watching TV are familiar with the reports about
people who become rich overnight. Some one has once said that at the beginning there is no way in the world, but the roads are formed when there are more and more people walking on it. However when too many people walk on the same road, the road disappears. This saying is quite philosophical. Then how to find a new road when there is no way for us to walk? The answer is “to be innovative”!
Today’s society is full of serious competitions, which is an important motivation to the whole society’ improvement and development. Competition means that you have to struggle against others maybe just for a job, a promotion or money or a good living. People often think it difficult to find a good job, not to say a stable job. Sometimes women job-hunters in reality
